This report provides both an overview and a detailed analysis of the general education core in the undergraduate curriculum in Virginia's colleges and universities. Sixty-eight campuses participated in the study, including all 15 public four-year institutions, all 24 public two-year institutions, 20 private not-for-profit institutions, and 9 for-profit institutions. The study is divided into two volumes. The first provides an overview of the report's findings, recommendations for improvements, and compares specific patterns at Virginia institutions with national norms. It is concluded that while Virginia institutions perform comparatively well, there is room for substantial improvement. The second volume, which comprises the study's detailed findings, is divided into five parts: part 1 examines the rationale for general education programs; part 2 describes the structure of general education programs; part 3 provides an analysis of course-taking patterns; part 4 addresses methods of assessment; and part 5 gives an overview of the process of change in the general education programs. (Contains 47 data tables.) (MDM)